The  2017-2018 Flu Vaccine

It’s the time of the year to start getting your flu shot. There are a few things  you need to know about the 2017-2018 flu vaccine.

The flu vaccine

The flu virus is common and unpredictable. It can cause serious complications or even death in healthy children. That is one of the main reasons why the flu vaccine is essential for all children. Giving the child an influenza immunization each year is the best way to protect your child from the flu virus. If you don’t immunize your child, you not only miss the opportunity to immunize your child but put others at risk.

Even though influenza can be treated with  antiviral medications, the drugs are less effective when not started early, can be expensive and have bothersome side effects.

It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as  Center for Disease Control and Prevention that all people 6 months and older get the annual influenza immunization. In addition to this , all house contacts  and out of home caregivers  of   children with high risk conditions  and all children under age 5 should be vaccinated.

Young children, people with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, weakened immune system and pregnant women are at high risk of complications associated with flu such as pneumonia.

When will the flu vaccine be available ?

Most health centers have received their Influenza vaccine shipment and will continue through the fall and winter. Call your pediatrician to find out if they have the vaccine in stock.

Infants and  and children up to the age of 8 receiving the flu shot for the first time may need 2 doses of the vaccine. They are administered 4 weeks apart. It is important that these children receive their first dose as soon as possible to be sure that they complete both doses before the flu season begins.

This flu’s vaccine is only available as a shot

The inactive influenza vaccine is given by  intramuscular injection and is given to  children 6 months and older.Depending on the number of flu strains it contains, it is available in both trivalent (IIV3 – two A and one B virus) and quadrivalent (IIV4 – two A and two B viruses) forms.

It doesnt matter which form you get. The quadrivalent influenza vaccines for the 2017-2018 season contain the same three strains as the trivalent vaccine, plus an additional B strain. AAP does not give preference for one type of flu vaccine over another.

Other points to note include the following :

• The flu vaccine doesnt cause autism.
• If you catch the flu and are vaccinated, you will get a milder form of the disease.
• The flu vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines.
• People with egg allergy can get the flu vaccine from their pediatrician without going to an allergy specialist. Even those with severe egg allergy don’t have to treat getting the flu vaccine differently than getting any other vaccine. This is because  they are not likely to get a reaction to the flu.